Five Scouts from Troop 1776 will be leaving July 23rd to travel to England for the World Scout Jamboree. The boys will tour London for three days before heading off to Gilwell Park for a day, the home of Scouting in the UK. Then it will be off to the camp at Hylands Park for twelve nights where they will meet Scouts from all over the world and rest and relax after a good day’s work on a service project. The last Jamboree, held in Thailand four years ago, hosted 24,000 participants from 147 countries. The World Jamboree is truly a time to make new friends and learn about different cultures.

Patrick Stone, a 9th grader at Williams High School has been in Scouting for ten years and holds the rank of Eagle Scout. His father, John Stone, is the Scoutmaster for Troop 1776 and an assistant Scoutmaster of World Jamboree Troop 203, and says that the World Jamboree is an investment you make in your child’s life—about a $4000 investment. Patrick is interested in sampling food from other countries and hopes to learn some of the other languages spoken by Scouts. He also wants to trade a few patches with the new friends he will make at the Jamboree.
?
Cory Simon is a 9th grader at Community High School. Cory says he has been in Scouting all his life, from Tiger Cub up, and is close to reaching Eagle Scout. He is looking forward to this trip and the adventure it will be.

Tyler Hemenway attends Anna High School and is in the 9th grade. He has been in Scouts for ten years and is on his way to being an Eagle Scout. Tyler hopes to pick up some souvenirs during his trip to England and is interested to know how other cultures live.

Tyler Estes is a 9th grader at Wylie High School. Tyler has enjoyed Scouting for six years and is hopeful of becoming an Eagle Scout. Tyler says aside from becoming introduced to other languages, he wants to trade some of his uniforms with Scouts from other parts of the world. This is a tradition at World Jamborees.
?
Cameron Keith, a 9th grader at Vines in Plano, was not available for our interview but will be attending the Jamboree with the rest of his Troop.

Troop 1776 will combine with other Circle Ten Council Troops to become World Jamboree Troop #203. Once at the Jamboree the Troops will be “mixed up” for activities, projects and camping. Don Wendell, Scoutmaster Emeritus of Troop 1776 and World Jamboree Troop 203 Scoutmaster, remembers one of the service projects in Thailand was to paint a school. Obviously, not every Scout works on the same project so there are multiple projects going on at various locations.

The number of Scouts attending from the U.S. is limited to 3200. Unlike Scouting in the U.S., all countries do not separate their Scouts into Boys and Girls Troops. Troop 203 has a very good chance of wielding hammers or swabbing on paint with the “fairer” sex. About 40% of the attendance is made up of female Scouts.

Troop 1776 would like to purchase some friendship items to exchange with other Scouts at the World Jamboree. If you would like to contribute to the fund for U.S. Flag pins and other memorabilia, please send your check by May 1, 2007 -- they will certainly appreciate your help. Please mail to:
Troop 1776
World Jamboree?
2129 Country Club Drive
Plano, TX? 75074

In preparation for sightseeing at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, Patrick, Cory, Tyler and Tyler practice a “Royal” waive in case they should spot Queen Elizabeth. It doesn’t appear this is covered in the Scouting manual.?

?